Jonah Or Philip?

Are you Jonah or Philip?

Today I’d like us to examine 2 people in the bible, one from OT and one from NT.

Our key passages are found in:

Jonah 1:3 and Acts 8:30.

Ideally, we will all see a little bit of both of these men in ourselves.

Stand with me as we honor God while reading His word.

Let’s begin in Jonah 1:1–4 “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. But the Lord sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up.”

Jonah 1:3 “But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.”

Have you ever found yourself fleeing from the presence of the Lord? I know I have, especially in my younger days.

But the truth of the matter is, His omnipresence won’t allow it!

Jonah 1:4 “But the Lord sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up.”

I had to look up tempest- a sudden storm

Ever heard the saying “there are no atheist in foxholes”?

Listen to Jonah 1:5 “Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep.”

cried out to his god.

Jonah 1:6–9 “So the captain came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.” And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this trouble has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. Then they said to him, “Please tell us! For whose cause is this trouble upon us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” So he said to them, “I am a Hebrew; and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.””

Jonah 1:5 “Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep.”

As I was preparing this message, I couldn't help recall how Jesus was asleep in the boat when the storm came up.

I thought, "I can understand how Jesus was probably at peace with it all".

Maybe Jonah too, was at peace, thinking he had fled the presence of the Lord.

I pray we never become at peace by fleeing the presence of the Lord!

Jonah 1:7 “And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this trouble has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.”

cast lots-slow on upswing, but that is where "lottery" came from. This is the English translation of the original Dutch root meaning "fate".

However, in ancient times, casting lots was believed to be a "divine decision".

God controlled the outcome when the lots fell to Jonah.

Jonah 1:8–10 “Then they said to him, “Please tell us! For whose cause is this trouble upon us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” So he said to them, “I am a Hebrew; and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, “Why have you done this?” For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them.”

Jonah knew he was to blame for the situation they all were in.